Maryland’s OWINGS MILLS Aside from Malik Hamm’s season-ending knee injury, the Baltimore Ravens’ injury report for training camp was looking very good. But over the past few days, that has altered. First, one of the team’s most important players, center Tyler Linderbaum, went down with an injury that head coach John Harbaugh promised to treat carefully and gradually. There is no sign that Linderbaum will be playing again anytime soon.
Late in Monday’s practice, wide receiver Rashod Bateman seemed to have an injury to his middle or ribs. According to Harbaugh, Bateman’s hard landing on the football was the cause of his injury, and the wide receiver’s absence is not expected to last long. Still, Bateman was not present for practice on Tuesday.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh wasn’t on the practice field, either. He’s dealing with a sprained ankle that likely won’t keep him out long, Harbaugh said. Still, his injury is the latest to impact the team’s thin outside linebacker corps.
In addition, veteran slot corner Arthur Maulet, who had just practiced on Monday and was in the midst of a productive camp, is being evaluated for a knee injury, according to Harbaugh. It is unclear when he will return.
“It’s not going to be anything season-ending, but we’re looking at it right now and we have to figure out what it is,” said Harbaugh.
Adisa Isaac, a rookie outside linebacker selected in the third round, was removed off the non-football injury list on Tuesday and participated in his first training camp practice, which gave the Ravens some positive injury news. Deonte Harty, a wide receiver and return specialist, also made his way back to the field following a period of absence due to a lower leg injury. Nevertheless, the good news about Isaac and Harty was overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding Maulet, who has developed into a vital member of Baltimore’s dynamic defense, and the practice absences of important players Linderbaum, Bateman, and Oweh.
Stephens standing out
Two attempts at Brandon Stephens were made by Lamar Jackson early in Tuesday’s practice. Stephens, who was among the football team’s most targeted cornerbacks the previous season, was not unfamiliar with the sensation. It was also not out of the ordinary to see Stephens accept the challenge.
Jackson attempted to hit a deep jump ball to rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker, but Stephens stepped up next to him and batted the pass away. Jackson put Stephens to the test once more two plays later when he gave Zay Flowers a shot on a deep pass that was quite well-thrown. But Stephens was all over Flowers, and Flowers was unable to make the catch. Stepping up, Stephens gestured with his index finger, seemingly saying, “Do not attempt me again.” Along with striking a posture and dancing, he was encouraged by safety Marcus Williams.
While everyone is talking about how great Marlon Humphrey looks when healthy and how big of an impact rookie Nate Wiggins could have, Stephens is quietly having a great training camp. By the end of the regular season, if he maintains this momentum and has another great campaign, the upcoming unrestricted free agent will be a very wealthy young man.
Other thoughts, observations
• Sean Ryan, a second-year wide receiver, produced the game’s most offensive play when he made a juggling catch down the far sideline while cornerback Ka’dar Hollman was firmly covering him. Catching one of rookie Devin Leary’s best passes of the entire camp, Ryan sprinted downfield and scored a touchdown that went over seventy yards. Ryan, who is doing well in camp to make the 53-man roster, celebrated the touchdown with Jackson and left tackle Ronnie Stanley running out.
• Should Baltimore choose to stick with six receivers, Ryan might be a candidate for the final place. Flowers, Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Walker, and, if he remains fit and earns the return job, Harty, are the five players who seem to be roster locks. The veteran Russell Gage was signed by the Ravens early on Tuesday, adding another receiver to their mix. Soon after signing, Gage was on the practice field and made a few catches. Due to a serious knee injury, the 28-year-old missed the entire previous season, ending a strong four-year run. Between 2019 and 2022, Gage averaged 60 catches, 607 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns while playing for the Atlanta Falcons for three of those years and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the other. He is currently
• During training camp, the Ravens do not often go live tackling, but they did so on a game-winning two-point conversion attempt late in practice on Tuesday. When tight end Qadir Ismail was drilled by rookie safety Sanoussi Kane, the defense held, stopping him just short of the end zone and igniting a furious celebration among the players.
• Young defensive back Christian Matthew dug Cunningham to the ground despite the fact that it was not the live tackling time. Cunningham attempted to intercept a deep pass that was hung up, and Matthew punished him for it. The wide receiver who had been a quarterback stood up cautiously but soon after, he was back in the game.
• Although Wiggins has had a good camp, his tendency to get a little handsy downfield is a flaw. Tuesday’s practice saw Wiggins flagged twice for defensive holding, one day after he was called for pass interference in the end zone. He will need to play with discipline because Baltimore’s early-schedule pass-happy opponents will undoubtedly test the first-round pick.
• Ar’Darius Washington, the young defensive back, is having terrific days. He had a pick-six on a Josh Johnson pass to the flat on Monday. Washington read a pass from Jackson to tight end Mark Andrews during a goal-line drill on Tuesday, moved forward, and made the interception. Washington did a backflip in celebration of the pick, much like they did the day before. Washington’s prospects of having a roster spot improve daily, especially with Maulet is injury problem and the fact that rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa has not even started practicing. On Tuesday, after Jackson’s brief toss bounced in and out of running back Justice Hill’s hands, linebacker Malik Harrison also picked off the quarterback.
• The Ravens ran the ball inside the 5-yard line three times in a row during an early goal-line drill, but they were unable to score. Rasheen Ali, a rookie, was stuffed on the third play after Owen Wright was stopped on the first two. For an offensive line that is still the team’s biggest question mark thus far into camp, it was not a good sequence.
• Later in practice, running the ball proved to be a success for Baltimore. For a 20-yard touchdown, Derrick Henry outran Roquan Smith and bounced one run outside. Every day that goes by, Henry appears more at ease.
• Tight ends coach George Godsey brought a fumble recovery exercise to Baltimore, where the Ravens concluded practice. The newcomers were forced to move across a grassy area while being doused in water from hoses operated by their more experienced peers. His comrades would boo any novice who attempted to circumvent the process and avoid getting his hands soiled; he would then be sent back to the line to start over. The guys chanted for Harbaugh to go down the gantlet after all the rookies finished. Responding with a backwards cap, Harbaugh dove for the ball as hoses sprayed him from all sides.
(Photo of Arthur Maulet: Nick Wass / Associated Press)
